Expo Naval, the international naval and defense industry exhibition to be held between December 3 and 6, 2024 at the Terminal de Pasajeros Puerto Valparaíso, has unveiled its program of talks.

Under the title “Challenges for the defense industry in the new international order”, this meeting will be held in parallel to the exhibition on Wednesday and Thursday and will be composed of six blocks, divided into two keynote lectures and four panel discussions, with the participation of approximately 25 national and international experts.

The congress will begin on Wednesday, December 4 at 9:00 am with the inaugural talk by Admiral (R) James Stavridis, who was NATO Supreme Allied Commander between 2009 and 2013. With more than 30 years of service in the U.S. Navy, Stavridis is a key figure in the naval arena worldwide.

At 9:30 a.m., the first panel, entitled “Is there a need for a national defense industry?” will take place. Participants in this panel will include Senator Kenneth Pugh, chairman of the Senate Defense Committee, who will offer the State’s view; Colonel (R) Marcelo Masalleras of ATHENALAB; Dr. Philip Shetler-Jones, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute; and Captain José María Romero, of Spain’s Directorate General of Armaments and Material (DGAM). John Griffiths, from AthenaLAB, will be the moderator.

At 11:30 a.m., the second panel entitled “State defense companies and their contribution to the country” will be held, moderated by RADM (R) Matías Purcell. Participating in this block will be Ricardo Montero, Undersecretary of Defense; Brigadier General Luis Espinoza of FAMAE; Rear Admiral Jaime Sotomayor of ASMAR; Henry Cleveland, executive director of ENAER; and CN Francisco Mackay, head of the Navy’s Innovation Center (CITA).

The second day of the congress, Thursday, December 5, will begin at 9:30 a.m. with a talk by Vice Admiral Martin Connell, Second Sea Lord of the British Royal Navy. Connell is one of the great references in the field of navies at a global level and holds a position that bears an unmistakable historical stamp.

The third panel, entitled “Industrial capacity in defense and its contribution to innovation and national development”, will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be moderated by Juan Pablo Toro, executive director of AthenaLAB. Among the participants will be Carolina Gainza, Undersecretary of Science, Technology and Innovation; José Miguel Benavente, Executive Vice-President of CORFO; Gustavo Manrique, Executive Vice-President of CORFO; Gustavo Manrique, Executive Vice-President of CORFO

executive vice-president of CORFO; Gustavo Manzanilla, executive director of Manz Group; VADM (R) Ramiro Navajas of DTS; Francisco Hederra of SISDEF; and Captain (R) Anthony Covarrubias of Naval Group.

The event will culminate with the fourth panel, “The continuous national shipbuilding plan (PNCNC): benefits and challenges”, with the participation of VA Leonardo Chávez, from the Chilean Navy; Senator Gastón Saavedra, former mayor of Talcahuano; Heinz Pearce, general manager of ASENAV; and Geraint Lloyd, from Babcock Shipyard (UK). Fernanda Muñoz will be the moderator of this panel.

To participate in the exhibition and this important international congress purchase your ticket at the following link: https://www.exponaval.cl/comprar-ticket/